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The Guardian
28-05-2025
- General
- The Guardian
Progressive Judaism co-leaders pledge to welcome critics of Israel
Charley Baginsky's pink hair and piercings do not conform to the popular image of a rabbi, but her personal choices speak to the cornerstone of inclusivity on which a new British Jewish movement stands. In a historic step that could redefine British Judaism, the Liberal and Reform traditions in the UK merged earlier this month to form Progressive Judaism, with each group voting 95% in favour of uniting. Baginsky co-leads the movement with Rabbi Josh Levy, a self-confessed 'middle-aged man with a beard'. The votes were the culmination of two years of soundings, mostly against the backdrop of the horrific attack on Israelis by Hamas on 7 October 2023 and the devastating war waged in Gaza ever since. Now, as despair and revulsion at Israel's renewed assault on people in Gaza felt by many British Jews spills over into the public domain, Progressive Judaism is under a spotlight. 'We are a Zionist movement – that is, we are committed to there being a Jewish, liberal, pluralist, democratic state in our historic homeland,' said Levy. 'That remains our vision.' But, he added, 'the vast majority of Jews in this country are really troubled by what is happening. One of the things that is distinctive about us is that we think we are stronger for being willing to speak about how difficult this is, and that we do not see criticism of Israel as an act of disloyalty. We are open to a diversity of voices.' This stance contrasts with the Board of Deputies, the largest body representing British Jews, which has opened disciplinary proceedings against three dozen of its board members after they signed an open letter saying 'Israel's soul is being ripped out' by the war in Gaza. Most of the 36 are from the Liberal or Reform traditions that merged last weekend. 'Judaism has at its heart the idea that we grapple with one another, that we are stronger by having that conversation. It's not a very Jewish thing to suppress that disagreement and suggest that we all think the same,' said Levy. It was impossible to watch images from Gaza 'and not feel deep worry, pain, upset', said Baginsky. 'But how do people hold both their proud Zionism and their huge critique of what is happening, in a world that does not speak into complexity, that wants to polarise, wants to divide and wants simple answers, and doesn't necessarily understand what it means to be Jewish and a Zionist and believe the Israeli government does not speak with our voice?' Progressive Judaism represents about one-third of Jews affiliated to synagogues, and estimates the same proportion of non-affiliated Jews share its values. It hopes to grow by attracting non-affiliated Jews to its core principles of equality and inclusion, and by welcoming people of Jewish heritage and mixed faith families. In Orthodox Judaism, a person inherits their Jewishness only through their mother. Progressive Judaism says it can be inherited from either parent. Instead of referring to the one in three UK Jews who marry non-Jews as 'marrying out' of the faith, Progressive Judaism prefers to welcome in non-Jewish partners to its synagogues and communities. It also hopes to build on last year's 25% rise in the numbers of those converting to Liberal and Reform Judaism, attributed partly to people discovering Jewish heritage through DNA ancestry tests and partly to a more general increase in spirituality and interest in faith communities among young people since the Covid pandemic. 'Very often, religious life has been seen as judgmental, stern, unwelcoming, dated – and Progressive Judaism is not that,' said Levy. 'There is a place for people in a Judaism which is non-dogmatic, non-judgmental, genuinely egalitarian, genuinely inclusive, that wants to meet people where they are and help them to have rich and meaningful Jewish lives.' Sign up to First Edition Our morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion About half of Progressive Judaism's rabbis are women, and about one in five are LGBTQ+. Liturgy – prayers, readings, ritual – is non-gendered. Baginsky, who has been a rabbi for 17 years, said: 'Our community is very used to women rabbis but as soon as I step out, whether that is in interfaith settings or in other parts of the Jewish community, often I'm the only woman with seniority in that space. There is a need to prove oneself, whereas if I was a man I would automatically walk in with authority. Within Progressive Judaism, I have the authority. Outside, I am fighting to be recognised as a rabbi, let alone as a senior rabbi.' The merger between the Liberal and Reform traditions was partly for practical reasons – to use resources more efficiently. But it is also an 'act of repair', said Levy. 'We are the only country in which there has been a divide between Reform and Liberal Judaism, so this feels like putting right something that should never have been. 'It is a statement of what we want Jewish life, religious life, to be – ambitious and optimistic and open, but also capable of holding diversity in multiple voices. And that we can work better if we work together. This is an act of friendship.'
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
'Biggest change in British Judaism since the war' as new Progressive movement forms
LONDON, May 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- In a history-defining moment, member communities of Britain's Movement for Reform Judaism and Liberal Judaism have voted to unite into one Progressive Judaism for the UK at two parallel EGMs. Dr Ed Kessler MBE – a leading interfaith thinker, writer and academic – chaired the Advisory Board that has overseen the process. He hailed the decision, saying: "This is the biggest change and most significant development in British Judaism since the Second World War. "For the first time, this country now has a single, unified Progressive Judaism – providing a voice and a space that brings together timeless Jewish tradition with the diversity and values of 21st-century Jewish life." The new Progressive Judaism will be the UK's largest synagogal movement, measured by number of communities (80). It will represent 1/3 of synagogue affiliated Jews with the goal of reaching out to roughly the same percentage of non-affiliated Jews who are known to align with Progressive Jewish values. This is the first ever known unification of two Jewish denominations and the culmination of 250 years of Progressive Jewish history. Rabbi Charley Baginsky, CEO of Liberal Judaism, and Rabbi Josh Levy, CEO of the Movement for Reform Judaism, have led the merger journey. Rabbi Josh Levy said: "We have heard first-hand how Progressive Jews all around the country want to take this once-in-a-generation opportunity to create something new and intentional – a Progressive Judaism that has something to say into the world and that can help more people have more fulfilling religious lives." Rabbi Charley Baginsky added: "We are now seeing the fruition of the next iteration of Progressive Jewish history. Through this vote, our members are both standing on the shoulders of all those who came before us and creating something long and lasting for our children and the generations who come after us." Progressive Judaism differs from Orthodox Judaism in several ways. Services are egalitarian with everyone sitting together. The Progressive clergy is 50% women and 20% LGBTQI+. Progressive communities fully welcome mixed-faith families and hold dual-heritage wedding blessings. The movements campaigned for the introduction of the same-sex marriage law. In a further key difference to Orthodoxy, Jewish status can be inherited from either parent where a child is brought up as Jewish. Liberal Judaism Chair Karen Newman said: "Our new Progressive Judaism will manifest its commitment to a Judaism that is non-dogmatic, inclusive and celebrates diversity in policy, prayer, and practice." Paul Langsford, Chair of the Movement for Reform Judaism, added: "We will now be stronger, our voice will be louder and we will be able to bring even greater benefit not just to our own members, but to the whole Jewish community and wider British society." Photo - View original content to download multimedia: Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
'Biggest change in British Judaism since the war' as new Progressive movement forms
LONDON, May 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- In a history-defining moment, member communities of Britain's Movement for Reform Judaism and Liberal Judaism have voted to unite into one Progressive Judaism for the UK at two parallel EGMs. Dr Ed Kessler MBE – a leading interfaith thinker, writer and academic – chaired the Advisory Board that has overseen the process. He hailed the decision, saying: "This is the biggest change and most significant development in British Judaism since the Second World War. "For the first time, this country now has a single, unified Progressive Judaism – providing a voice and a space that brings together timeless Jewish tradition with the diversity and values of 21st-century Jewish life." The new Progressive Judaism will be the UK's largest synagogal movement, measured by number of communities (80). It will represent 1/3 of synagogue affiliated Jews with the goal of reaching out to roughly the same percentage of non-affiliated Jews who are known to align with Progressive Jewish values. This is the first ever known unification of two Jewish denominations and the culmination of 250 years of Progressive Jewish history. Rabbi Charley Baginsky, CEO of Liberal Judaism, and Rabbi Josh Levy, CEO of the Movement for Reform Judaism, have led the merger journey. Rabbi Josh Levy said: "We have heard first-hand how Progressive Jews all around the country want to take this once-in-a-generation opportunity to create something new and intentional – a Progressive Judaism that has something to say into the world and that can help more people have more fulfilling religious lives." Rabbi Charley Baginsky added: "We are now seeing the fruition of the next iteration of Progressive Jewish history. Through this vote, our members are both standing on the shoulders of all those who came before us and creating something long and lasting for our children and the generations who come after us." Progressive Judaism differs from Orthodox Judaism in several ways. Services are egalitarian with everyone sitting together. The Progressive clergy is 50% women and 20% LGBTQI+. Progressive communities fully welcome mixed-faith families and hold dual-heritage wedding blessings. The movements campaigned for the introduction of the same-sex marriage law. In a further key difference to Orthodoxy, Jewish status can be inherited from either parent where a child is brought up as Jewish. Liberal Judaism Chair Karen Newman said: "Our new Progressive Judaism will manifest its commitment to a Judaism that is non-dogmatic, inclusive and celebrates diversity in policy, prayer, and practice." Paul Langsford, Chair of the Movement for Reform Judaism, added: "We will now be stronger, our voice will be louder and we will be able to bring even greater benefit not just to our own members, but to the whole Jewish community and wider British society." Photo - View original content to download multimedia: Sign in to access your portfolio
The Guardian
18-05-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
‘Our voice will be louder': two UK Jewish movements to unite as progressive group
Two Jewish movements in the UK have united to form Progressive Judaism, embracing female rabbis, same-sex marriage and mixed-faith couples and representing about a third of British Jews who are affiliated to synagogues. Liberal Judaism and Reform Judaism took the historic step of voting to unite at parallel meetings on Sunday. Each vote easily exceeded the required 75% threshold for the move, with about 95% in favour. Ed Kessler, who chaired an advisory board overseeing the merger, said: 'This is the biggest change and most significant development in British Judaism since the second world war.' Progressive Judaism would provide a 'voice and a space that brings together timeless Jewish tradition with the diversity and values of 21st-century Jewish life', he added. It is the first ever merger of two Jewish denominations, and the first in any major religion for more than half a century. Most British Jews are Orthodox, though the progressive tradition has grown over recent decades. Progressive Judaism will differ from the Orthodox tradition in its fundamental commitment to equality. About half its rabbis are women, and one in five are LGBTQ+. Karen Newman, the chair of Liberal Judaism, said the new movement 'will manifest from day one its commitment to a Judaism that is non-dogmatic, inclusive and celebrates diversity in policy, prayer, and practice'. Paul Langsford, chair of the Movement for Reform Judaism, said: 'As a unified movement, we will now be stronger, our voice will be louder and we will be able to bring even greater benefit not just to our own members, but to the whole Jewish community and wider British society.' The merger has taken two years of consultations and negotiations, and will be formally launched in November. Rabbi Charley Baginsky, of Liberal Judaism, said: 'We are now seeing the fruition of the next iteration of progressive Jewish history. Through this vote, our members are both standing on the shoulders of all those who came before us and creating something long and lasting for our children and the generations who come after us.' Rabbi Jonathan Romain, head of the Rabbinic Court of Reform Judaism, said: 'There is so much division in the world, it is incumbent on faith groups to show that coexisting in harmony can be a reality to live out, not just an ideal to pray for. This merger is a great example of showing that differences can be overcome with a mix of commonsense and goodwill.' The Reform and Liberal traditions are both Zionist movements, while believing it is not disloyal to criticise Israel. 'Within Progressive Judaism, diversity of views and voices – including around Israel/Palestine – are welcome and debate is encouraged,' said a spokesperson. Jews made up 0.46% of the population of England and Wales in the 2021 census. More than half live in Greater London.
